"Best Of" Website Re-design

LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT US:

We started 5 years ago with www.BestofCayman.com. Since then, we've also launched BestofTexas.com, and we're getting ready to launch BestoftheCaribbean.com.

We have a new brand, and we're looking for a new, fresh and clean look, that will allow users to easily navigate through the site from a high level, ex. State or Country all the way down to Neighborhoods to find the best restaurants, bars, hotels, shopping, activities and more.

HERE IS WHAT WE NEED:

Our websites consist of 4 main pages. Obviously, the Homepage, then we have a Category Page (ex. Restaurants), a Sub-Category Page (ex. Best Sushi), and a Listing Page (ex. Businesses Listing).

We have 4 levels of Listings- Platinum, which shows up first on the listing page, and includes Video. Premium, which shows up below the Platinum Level, and includes a static logo, etc. And Basic (free) and Enhanced, which are basically Text Listings.

Homepage-

We need to keep some of the pieces that we currently have on the homepage.

See here: http://dfw.bestoftexas.com/

Need to easily be able to select your city/neighborhood from a State or Country level

Smart Search- Ex. Search for Keyword within 5 miles of Zip Code

468x60 banner- top right corner

Sign in/Sign up- Membership

Placement for rotating images, and/or Video

Welcome Text

Top 10 Most Popular Searches

One Featured Ad Space (see bottom of page, we currently have 5, but only want 1 in the new design)

Local Events Calendar

Local Classifieds

Local News Feed

Maybe include local Weather somewhere on the homepage

NEW: Major Feature- Social Media graphic, similar to the likes of Twitter and Facebook, with the most recent posts showing up on the homepage, pulled from the Category, Sub-Category, and iPhone app pages.

Name: Let's Squawk about it.... The Best....

Should have small user photo, text of what is the Best, graphic to show if they included photos or videos, allow others to "Agree" that this is the best.

See Twitter.com, Facebook.com, and 12seconds.com

We would like to be able to fit at least 5-10 on the homepage, with a more button.

140 character text limit

15 second video limit

3 photos limit

Ex. The Best...

The Best....Happy Hour.....at Mi Cocina.....with Co-workers!

Add photos or Add video

Category Page-

See here: http://dfw.bestoftexas.com/restaurants-a...

This needs to be cleaned up and easy to navigate

Show design for:

Platinum Listing-

ex. Halo Tea & Chocolate

Premium Listing-

ex. Frankie's Sports Bar

Basic Listing:

ex. Deli Junction

Need to integrate the Socail Media part for the Category, ex. People talking about Restuaurants

-These will all feed, so the most recent show up on the homepage

Listing Page-

See here: http://dfw.bestoftexas.com/Restaurants-a...

Needs a cleaner layout and design

Should have placement for Social Media, so someone can "talk" about what is BEST at this place, and others can view.

OUR TARGET AUDIENCE IS:

We target the hyper-local cities in the US and also the travel market. We want them to think of us as a fun, "in the know", hyper-local website, with great features and tools to find exactly what you're looking for in your own neighborhood.

WE LIKE THESE DESIGNS:

www.local.yahoo.com

www.citysearch.com

www.tripadvisor.com

www.12seconds.com

www.twitter.com